2019 Cybersecurity Workforce Study also examines motivations and career paths of
cybersecurity professionals and shares recruitment strategies for organizations to use

Clearwater, November 6, 2019 – (ISC)² – the world’s largest nonprofit membership association of certified cybersecurity professionals – today announced the findings of its 2019 (ISC)² Cybersecurity Workforce Study, which for the first time estimates the current cybersecurity workforce (2.8 million professionals), as well as the amount of additional trained staff needed to close the skills gap (4.07 million professionals). The data indicates a necessary cybersecurity workforce increase of 145%. In the U.S. market, the current cybersecurity workforce estimate is 804,700 and the shortage of skilled professionals is 498,480, requiring an increase of just 62% to better defend U.S. organizations.

“We’ve been evolving our research approach for 15 years to get to this point today, where we can confidently estimate the current workforce and better understand what it will take as an industry to add enough professionals to protect our critical assets,” said Wesley Simpson, chief operating officer, (ISC)². “Perhaps more importantly, the study provides actionable insights and strategies for building and growing strong cybersecurity teams. Knowing where we stand and the delta that needs to be filled is a powerful step along the pathway to overcoming our industry’s staffing challenges.”

Along with providing these estimates, the study takes a closer look at who cybersecurity professionals are and what motivates them, reveals how organizational security teams are staffed, and outlines data-driven insights into immediate and longer-term methods for building qualified and resilient cybersecurity teams now and in the future.

Among the key findings from the study:

65% of organizations report a shortage of cybersecurity staff; a lack of skilled/experienced cybersecurity personnel is the top job concern among respondents (36%)

Two-thirds (66%) of respondents report that they are either somewhat satisfied (37%) or very satisfied (29%) in their jobs; and 65% intend to work in cybersecurity for their entire careers

30% of survey respondents are women; 23% of whom have security-specific job titles

37% are below the age of 35, and 5% are categorized as Generation Z, under 25 years old

62% of large organizations with more than 500 employees have a CISO; that number drops to 50% among smaller organizations

48% of organizations represented say their security training budgets will increase within the next year

The average North American salary for cybersecurity professionals is $90,000; those holding security certifications have an average salary of $93,000 while those without earn $76,500 on average

59% of cybersecurity professionals are currently pursuing a new security certification or plan to do so within the next year

Just 42% of respondents indicate that they started their careers in cybersecurity; meaning 58% moved into the field from other disciplines

Top recruiting sources outside of the core cybersecurity talent pool include new university graduates (28%), consultants/contractors (27%), other departments within an organization (26%), security/hardware vendors (25%) and career changers (24%)

Strategies for Building Up Cybersecurity Teams
In the face of the growing need to build the workforce and recruit new talent, there are four main strategies outlined in the report. These include (1) highlighting training and professional development opportunities that contribute to career advancement, (2) properly level setting on applicant qualifications to make sure the net is cast as wide as possible for undiscovered talent, (3) attracting new workers such as recent college graduates who have tangential degrees to cybersecurity, or seasoned pros such as consultants and contractors into full-time roles, and (4) strengthening from within by further developing and cross-training existing IT professionals with transferrable skills.

The Cybersecurity Workforce Study shows that cybersecurity and IT professionals are largely satisfied in their careers and optimistic about their futures. But the size of the current workforce still leaves a significant gap between the number of cybersecurity professionals working in the field and the number needed to keep organizations safe.

Methodology
The study is based on online survey data from 3,237 individuals responsible for security/cybersecurity throughout North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific. This more than doubles the respondent base from the 2018 study (1,452). Respondents were a mix of certified professionals in official cybersecurity roles, as well as IT/ICT professionals who spend a minimum of 25% of a typical work week handling cybersecurity-related responsibility. Unlike legacy gap calculation models that simply subtract supply from demand, this study’s calculation takes other key factors into consideration, including the percentage of organizations with open positions and the estimated growth of companies of different sizes.

About The (ISC)² Cybersecurity Workforce Study
(ISC)² conducts in-depth research into the challenges and opportunities facing the cybersecurity profession. The (ISC)² Cybersecurity Workforce Study is conducted annually to assess the cybersecurity workforce gap, better understand the barriers facing the cybersecurity profession, and uncover solutions that position these talented individuals to excel in their profession, better secure their organizations’ critical assets and achieve their career goals.

About (ISC)²Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, (ISC)² is an international nonprofit membership association focused on inspiring a safe and secure cyber world. Best known for the acclaimed Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP®) certification, (ISC)² offers a portfolio of credentials that are part of a holistic, pragmatic approach to security. Our membership, more than 140,000 strong, is made up of certified cyber, information, software and infrastructure security professionals who are making a difference and helping to advance the industry. Our vision is supported by our commitment to educate and reach the general public through our charitable foundation – The Center for Cyber Safety and Education™. For more information on (ISC)², visit www.isc2.org, follow us on Twitter or connect with us on Facebook and LinkedIn.

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